It's Always Fun When G'ma & G'pa Come

Mark's parents came out for Aubree's baptism and then stayed for two weeks.  I have to say, they definitely earned their keep!  

In anticipation of having built-in/willing babysitters, I scheduled all kinds of things: Fun things - like a weekend away with Mark for our Anniversary, obligatory things - like volunteering in Bryce's classroom (twice), and dreaded things - like dentist appointments (3 of them, yikes!).  Suffice it to say, I've never left my kids so much in such a short period of time before, but everyone did great.  The kids were spoiled with so many people to play with them and read to them.  I always think it's a wonder Grandpa doesn't lose his voice when he visits!

Mark and I did take Graham with us on our getaway since he's still nursing, but he's such an easy going baby kid, and having just one kid seemed like such a breeze compared to our normal circus.  

Helping in Bryce's classes was great.  Each parent is required to volunteer 3-4 times a year per block class.  Since Bryce is enrolled in two block class days, I've got a lot of days to fill in!  The first day I helped in the art class.  

The second day I helped in the science class.  One of their block classes is focusing on space this year, so in their science class they were learning about comets.  The K/1 class made comets out of ice-cream (ice), sixlets (rocks), and crushed oreos (dirt).  Then they ate them.  Now, that's my kind of science!

The older classes made comets out of dry ice, dirt, corn syrup, ammonia, and water.  More scientifically accurate, and still very cool, but not nearly as tasty.

When Grandma and Grandpa weren't babysitting, we managed to escape the house for a few fun activities.  For example, I told the boys that only grandmas pay for kids to ride on the horse at the store. And Grandma did not disappoint!  She even let them ride twice.

We made another visit to Northwest Trek (we sure are getting good use out of those passes!), though I think my kids might be getting just a little bored of it...

For our Five in a Row schooling, Bryce and I were reading/rowing "The Rag Coat," which is about a coal miner's daughter.  I remembered that our next door community has a miner's museum, and it seemed a perfect time to visit (1:1 ratio of adults to kids!).  It was a really great little museum, filled with little treasures and delights and lots of old people who seemed thrilled to see young kids.  

An old-time stove like we see in so many of our FIAR books

A model of how the coal town used to look 

Thane decided he wanted to be Grandpa's special buddy, while Graham was furious that I was trying to carry him.  "Don't you know," he glared, "I'm a big kid now!"

What we failed to realize, was that in addition to old-time community and mining relics, this museum also had a TRAIN engine and caboose.  What's more, the boys were allowed and encouraged to go inside both.  In the engine, the got to blow the horn and the whistle.

The caboose was seriously awesome.  There were beds and desks, and even this second story platform where they could sit to look out the window as the train travelled.  I think Bryce is even more intent on being a train engineer now, though he was disappointed to learn they don't have cabooses anymore.

Graham was just glad to have a place to roam free.  

We also managed to fit in some traditional Mahjong.  I was an extremely gracious host and absorbed all the negative points, while Mark managed to craft a sneaky win at the very last second.

And, just for kicks (she's getting so much more enjoyable to listen to these days!)...